Stories by Obasola Olatunde
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere Ekun, has charged the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to guard its independence jealously and shun acts capable of tarnishing its image or undermining public trust in the judiciary.
Justice Kekere Ekun gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday while receiving members of the Tribunal, led by its Chairman, Mr Mainasara Umar, who paid her a courtesy visit.
During the visit, the CCT Chairman sought the support of the Chief Justice to enhance the Tribunal’s efficiency and address the deplorable state of its facilities, saying steps were already being taken to improve conditions. He also requested greater institutional backing to ensure the Tribunal receives adequate funding to discharge its constitutional mandate.
In her response, the CJN urged the Chairman to adopt innovative and proactive approaches in tackling the Tribunal’s operational challenges, particularly the backlog of pending cases.
She advised the Tribunal to operate strictly within its constitutional jurisdiction and collaborate more closely with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to ensure prompt submission of asset declarations by public officers.
“The credibility of the Tribunal and indeed the entire judicial system rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators. Let your actions inspire confidence in the institution you now lead,” Justice Kekere Ekun stated in a message issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Tobi Soniyi.
The CJN also reminded Tribunal members of their oath of office and called for unwavering fidelity to the Constitution, urging them to uphold justice “without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”
She further encouraged the CCT leadership to leverage the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for continuous capacity building through seminars and workshops for both members and staff of the Tribunal
